About Us

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What is Chilis on Wheels?

Our Beginnings...

Chilis on Wheels was started in November of 2014 by Michelle Carrera. When she couldn't find a soup kitchen that served a vegan Thanksgiving meal, she decided to prepare her own chili and take it directly to the community. After seeing first hand the need for such a program, she became inspired and committed to bringing vegan food to those in need.

Our Mission...

Chilis on Wheels makes veganism accessible to communities in need through services such as meal shares, food demos, clothing drives, and mentorship. We provide networks of support and build strong empowered communities within the areas that we serve.

Our Culture...

We believe in treating all living beings with kindness, empathy, and respect regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, ability, ethnicity, class, circumstance, environment, level of addiction, or species. Because of this, we do not turn away anyone in need of our assistance.

Our Vision...

Chilis on Wheels believes that an empowered community is key in dismantling systematic inequalities that prevent veganism from being attainable by poor and low-income communities. Through our networks of support, we're collectively building alternate systems to make veganism accessible to the areas that we serve.

Our Services...

With the goal of making veganism accessible to communities in need, all of our services are free of charge. Visit your local chapter’s page to find out which of the following are offered near you.

Meal Shares

Through our regularly scheduled meal shares, we provide vegan food to anyone in need of a warm meal. In addition to chili, we now offer a wide range of vegan meal options to best cater to our communities needs.

Workshops

Upon request, we provide vegan workshops for the members of our communities. From food demos to talks on veganism, we'll work with your church, community center, school, or group in whatever way we can.

Vegan Dog Food

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are actually omnivores- making meat-free diets appropriate for canines. Because of this, we provide free vegan dog food for our clients with dogs upon request.

Free Store

Our Free Store offers cruelty-free toiletries, sleeping bags, and a variety of other objects upon request.

Clothing Drives

During our clothing drives, we provide free weather-appropriate, cruelty-free clothing in good conditions to anyone in need.

Mentorship

We offer a free, 21 day program which includes daily informative emails, a full cost-effective meal plan, and a mentor of a similar background.

Microsanctuary

With millions of farmed animals being exploited, we provide a space where animal liberation is possible.

Youth Engagement

We provide a platform of encouragement and mentorship to children and teenagers to engage in building and improving their community.

Special Events

From movie nights to holiday celebrations, we host a wide range of events for the communities we work with.

What is Veganism?

A vegan does not use, wear, or eat animals or animal products, or products that have been tested or are dependent on the exploitation of animals. Although there are many reasons to go vegan, the following are some of the most common…

for the animals

for the environment

for your health

for Justice

All animals want to live, love, and be free. Veganism ensures that animals are not exploited through the commodification of their bodies and body-secretions. On dairy farms, mother cows are immediately separated from their newborns and forced provide milk to farmers rather than their calves. In factory farms, egg-laying hens are crammed into filthy cages- unable to move or spread their wings. These are only a few of the many injustices that farm animals experience on a daily basis. All animals have the right to freedom.

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change. Methane gas, land clearing needed for grazing, animal waste seeping into waterways are only a few of the awful environmental side-effects of animal agriculture.

Animal agriculture consistently oppresses communities of color. Factory farms are often located in poor communities, polluting the air and water, driving property costs down, and taking tax breaks instead of contributing to a town. Slaughterhouse and processing-plant workers, mostly people of color are some of the most exploited workers, routinely denied health care, living wages, union opportunities, and enduring hostile and physically dangerous working environments.

Meet the Team

The work that we do is made possible by the continuous efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Among them are a few individuals who go above and beyond to keep Chilis on Wheels going- learn more about them below!

Michelle carerra Co-Founder & Executive Director

Michelle is the Co-Founder of both Chilis on Wheels and Casa Vegana de la Comunidad. She is also the Co-Founder of Latinos for Animal Protection and has served as an organizer for the Vegan Latinos in NYC Meetup- a group that fundraises for Latin American vegan organizations. She is also a board member for The Micro-Sanctuary Movement.[email protected]

Ollie CarreraCo-Founder & Director of Kids outreach

Ollie is the Co-Founder of Chilis on Wheels and in charge of Kid Outreach. An animal rights activist, Ollie has participated in countless campaigns, marches, and demonstrations and has testified in front of the NYC Council on behalf of animals forced to perform in the circus. He routinely speaks in front of kids about veganism and caring for the animals.

Nicole HugueninDirector of communications

Nicole is a generosity entrepreneur and community organizer, meaning she’s involved in a lot of efforts that liberate, regenerate, and recalibrate how we bring more good into the world. Some of her initiatives and projects include, Aloha Alliances, Dream Together Crew, Walk2Connect, The Pollination Project, and of course Chilis On Wheels. The words of Albert Camus ring most true of Nicole’s work in the world, “Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”[email protected]

Christian Murillodirector of chapter development

Christian is a Xicano and vegan, born and raised in Califas; and worked for several non-profits on a variety of social justice issues. He is completing his Master of Social Work at Rutgers University. He is involved in indigenous danza Mexica, and enjoys mindfulness, cycling, camping, vermicomposting and experiential traveling. [email protected]

Xavier toledomarketing (English)

Xavier is an undergraduate student at Boston University studying Nutrition Science and Public Health. With the ultimate goal of becoming a plant-based physician, when he’s not studying, he dedicates much of his time working with organizations that strive to make the world a better place.[email protected]

cindy Negron marketing (Spansih)

A certified Coach and Educator in Vegan Lifestyle (VLCE) by the Main Street Vegan Academy, Cindy is the creator of Veganizalo- a project that shares comfort vegan food and vegan education through workshops and online content. Cindy is also the first official employee of Chilis on Wheels![email protected]

Help Make Veganism Accessible to All!

Give Today

We are funded by the generous support of our donors. Make a secure donation via credit card or paypal.

Donate Cruelty-Free Items

Chilis on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) organization on a mission to make veganism accessible to communities in need. Consider getting involved with us or donating to our cause- our tax ID number is 47-3083906.